Information for Service Providers

The Incest Survivors’ Association is funded to provide centre-based therapeutic services to individuals and families who have experienced intra-familial and/or extra-familial childhood sexual abuse. These services are provided to the survivors and to non-abusing members of the family and to persons who may be at risk of aiding and/or committing intra-familial child sexual abuse. Services may also be provided to the abusing member in the context of the holistic family systems approach to client-centred services.

Client Profile

ISA takes clients from the age of 8 years; however, the majority of ISA client contact is with survivors of childhood sexual abuse over the age of 14 years. Most ISA clients exhibit post-traumatic stress disorder related or anxiety and depressive and dissociative problems requiring specialist counselling. Often clients have co-morbid issues such as addictions, self-harm and relationship problems.

Non-offending family members or spouse/partner of survivors who are affected by the abuse are also supported. This facilitates these clients to recognise and act on dysfunctional family dynamics, gain support and learn new relationship skills.

ISA also works with offenders, but within strictly limited criteria and not as the primary client. Offenders may be provided with support within the context of our holistic family systems approach, but the nature of the intervention will be limited to maximising safety and reducing the risk of harm to the CSA survivors.

Services Offered
 
Initial assessment is provided within the first interview, and a therapeutic contract is established with the client. Services offered are therapeutic in nature – ISA does not offer a forensic, investigative or advocacy service. Support services are tailored to individual needs and include:
  • A range of individual and family counselling services, which includes both long-term and short-term solution-focused counselling and risk assessment. The counselling aims to empower the client to
    • Cope better with traumatic memories, 
    • Strengthen coping skills to deal with emotional triggers 
    • Improve capacity to develop safe relationships and develop protective behaviours for themselves, their children and families 
    • Recognise abusive relationship behaviour
  •  A comprehensive information service including information about
    • The impact of sexual abuse. Information and Education services based upon relevant & recent publications, seminars related to child sexual abuse issues and related trauma issues. ISA provides a library of resources for members to access.
    • The range of support services available. 
  •  Referral to other agencies for specialist support
    • Legal support. In cases of legal proceedings, we refer clients to specialist legal services. For a fee, ISA has the capacity to provide appropriate reports to courts.
    • Referrals to other specialist agencies or individuals – for example: psychiatric consultation, anger management or addiction programs, financial support agencies, etc.
  • Self-help and therapist-led support groups
  • Psycho-educational groups on topics such as
    • Parenting Skills groups for survivors of CSA as a form of ‘Therapeutic Intervention’ – breaking the destructive cycle of trans-generational forms of abuse.
    • Life and Relationship Skills. Clients learning to recognise abusive behaviours, dysfunctional relational and family dynamics and learn life and relational skills.
  • Working with government and other non-government services to co-ordinate service planning and provision

Service Outcomes
  • Clients develop understanding of the effects of childhood sexual abuse.
  • Clients increase their knowledge and skills to develop resilience to live with the effects of their sexual abuse trauma.
  • Clients gain confidence to better manage their life and relationships in relation to the abuse and its effects.
  • The effects of the abuse trauma are reduced.
  • Clients are protected from further abuse and learn life safety strategies.
  • Understanding is increased within the community on sexual abuse/assault and the effects of trauma.
Availability and Cost

The service is available 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Fees are on a sliding scale based upon the client’s financial circumstances, with all referral from the Department of Child Protection being fee-free.

DCP Referred Clients:                                                       Free of charge
Pensioner/Heath Care Card/Student                                   $ 44.00
Part-time employed or waged partner                                 $ 55.00
Full-time Employed/Employed with waged partner            $ 77.00
Couple Counselling                                                             $120.00
 The fee for attending groups is variable, depending on content, size and type of group. Group fees are published prior to the commencement of each group and prior to accepting referrals.
 
Fees may be partially or totally waived in circumstances of personal hardship.

Referrals
 
ISA is centrally located at 21 Lacey St, East Perth. Referrals may be made by